West Laurel: Time to judge the holiday light displays

Chris Folks, CBFolksWL@aol.com 301-490-0797

This is that extraordinary time of year when West Laurel lights up with brilliant holiday lights. Every Christmas I look forward to the small — and the more spectacular — light displays in our community.

Last December, Prince George's County Police community officer Cpl. James Beasock and his son, Christopher, chose three top light displays from our community. In addition to dutifully patrolling our streets this holiday season, he will be checking out the light displays as well and Christopher will again help him choose the winners. Maybe 3-year-old Austin will get a chance to help his dad this year, too. I love to ooh and aah at the grand illuminations that celebrate the season. When you find one of these displays, email the location to me and I'll report those locations in my next column. I'll also report the Beasock family's fave three.

The annual Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission deer hunt will be held Dec. 21 from dawn to 1 p.m. on the watershed for the Supplee area, which includes Supplee Lane and Brooklyn Bridge Road to Burtons Lane. The WSSC Deer Management Program was instituted in 2000 in response to severe deer damage to existing forest resources on the Patuxent Reservoirs Watershed property. For more information, contact Jim Benton, Watershed Manager, at 301-206-7488 or go to http://www.wsscwater.com/home/isp/content/managed-hunt.faces.

The annual West Laurel Holiday Party will be held on Friday, Dec.14, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the West Laurel Community Building. This is another one of those time-honored traditions where many generations of West Laurel kids and families have made wonderful holiday memories. There will be crafts for the kids, plenty of holiday music and light refreshments. This event is sponsored by the West Laurel Recreation Council, which will be accepting donations of unwrapped, new toys to deliver to Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services. Rumor has it that there will be a special appearance by Frosty and the big guy in the red suit (Santa!). Enjoy the caroling and fellowship of a great evening with neighbors.